Wed, Jan 30, 2008 at 2:38 PM

Repainting the deck furniture on the Titanic is the fresh new look for the Oakland A's upon entering the '08 season. On Saturday, the locals took the field for Fan Fest in their new black togs. Based on the photos published in the Chronicle Friday (in black and white!) and Saturday (huddled together in the rain) even the ballplayers look pretty glum about it.

Wed, Jan 30, 2008 at 2:35 PM

The Warriors have been winning, but coach Don Nelson must think there are style points at stake. Already having cemented his legend as the mad scientist of hoops with his 7-foot point guards and last week's Bellini-esque escapade of having a dust-covered reserve from Italy put in the game to foul an opponent relentlessly for sixty seconds, Nellie has won over the intelligentsia while keeping his hard-court cred flowing like a three-on-one break.

So why Chris Webber?

It reminds me of that Twilight Zone episode, where some twisted plutocrat has invited seemingly random people to survive the coming nuclear apocalypse with him in his radiation-proof lair. Turns out the only thing the befuddled invitees had in common is that they had all slighted the genius in some minor way back in the day. Rather than grovel, they ultimately decide they prefer thermonuclear destruction more than their petulant host. Putting aside the atomic holocaust (and the fact that this invited guest is a zillionaire himself) it's as if Nelson felt compelled to spend his last coaching assignment on earth with the one guy who blew a chunk out of his largely intact legacy.

The Warriors have developed a personality, they run! they're young! they're rejects! Webber only fits into the last category after wearing out his welcome in five NBA ports o' call. The team-wrecker who inspired two generations of Warriors to write the name of traded teammates on their shoes is supposedly here to lend a veteran presence.

Nelson has played the press like a pro, and gotten the San Jose Mercury to gush: "Webber part II Let the Fun begin." If by slowing down the high-octane offense, sullying up a bouncy locker room, and forcing himself to be released sometime in April sounds like fun to you there may be space for one more on the crashing bandwagon that Nellie built and will now destroy.

Why Nelson thinks it's now worthwhile to pave over a pothole he passed a thousand miles ago is one for his shrink. Why he would burden his good-time team with a bad-news addition is one for the season ticket holders.

Tue, Jan 29, 2008 at 6:09 PM

Reporting a January 24 knife-fight in the Concord station's bus zone, a witness told BART cops that the victim had fled, bleeding, in a cab. After learning more details from the taxi company, Concord police found the stabbed man "hiding in a backyard," reads the report.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 6:24 PM

Brainiac: Learn something new every day. Today's lecture: Michael Krasny. Discussing his book Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio and Literary Life with Berkeley Repertory Theatre artistic director Tony Taccone.

Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 5:03 PM

In case you missed it, the Oakland Tribune had an excellent story on Saturday, showing that Mayor Ron Dellums had racked up $31,142 in city-paid credit card bills in his first year in office. The only question is why the Trib didn't put this story by City Hall reporter Kelly Rayburn on the front page. Instead, we got a piece about Michael Vick's dogs?

On the Town: Going out tonight? Here's a strange one: Improvised Octopi Night at the 8th Street Performance Space. Listen to experimental improv by local musicians Charity Chan, John Raskin, Damon Smith, Jen Baker, and Frasier/Wallace, and enjoy a feast of octopus and squid dishes.